Magical Monday! Brave Hearts and Curiosities!

Hello Everyone!

Welcome to Magical Monday!

First, let me sent a shout-out to everyone who stopped by to visit us at the Saint Paul Art Crawl!  It was so much fun to meet or visit again with all of you and it was a fabulous show!!  Thank you!

So, on to the inspiration and curiosities for today!

Under the category of Brave Hearts.... I give you this:

Pretty awesome!!!

Next up is this:

(My apologies as I can't seem to find either photographer nor vehicle owner to credit for this photos.)  I know that many people have differing opinions of hippies and VW buses, but I am of the opinion that it takes a brave heart to own such a wonderful, vibrant vehicle such as this and stand behind the concepts beautifully detailed on it in a world that can be very much bound by the material.

And now, the Curiosity!

A Bouncy Stonehenge!!!!

You can find more details here! So there you have it! 

Have a fantabulous Monday and I'll see you on Wednesday! 

Ciao!

Whimsy Wednesday & Fini Friday! Faerie Tales!

Hello Everyone! 

Welcome to Whimsy Wednesday! 

This post is going to serve double-duty as the Whimsy Wednesday and Fini Friday post, since I'm in the midst of shows and show prep both last weekend and this weekend! 

Yes! That's right! This weekend I'll be at the Saint Paul Art Crawl!! 

Specifically, I'll be on the 3rd Floor Atrium of the Lowertown Lofts! 

So what do I have to show you today? You might remember last Friday and the post about the emerald green pen that was still growing into completion...I am pleased to let you know that it is done! 

Take a gander! 

Title: Faerie Tales 

Ingredients: fine and lead-free pewter, Blue Mystique Mood bead, glass, beadable pen.

The gorgeous focal bead is hand-cast in fine pewter by a husband and wife studio team in South Carolina (Green Girl Studios). The design was created by the husband, who mentioned that his inspiration for it stemmed from many of the symbols and images surrounding the wise Mystics in the movieThe Dark Crystal! Isn't that awesome?! 

The second nifty thing I have to show you is a new batch of Faerie-inspired creations! These are still growing, but the idea is that these are bottles filled with various varieties of faerie dust, from the Sprite Creations Faerie Apothecary! 

Ingredients: Faerie Dust, Glass, Cork.

These are fun, little creations for me to craft and enables me to play with glitter!!! Ahem! Faerie Dust!

I hope those who adopt them have as much fun with them as I do! 

As you can see, these are still growing, as they need tags or labels. 

So, really, both of these creations or creation sets fall under the Whimsy and the Fini theme! The pen (with the Mood bead) is both Whimsical and now complete and the Faerie Dust Bottles are surely chock-full of Whimsy and still growing! 

Just FYI: The Art Crawl runs from Friday through Sunday, so there is plenty of time to see us if you're in the area! 

We hope to see you there! 

Ciao!

Magical Monday! Beautiful Spaces!

Hello Hello!
Welcome to Magical Monday and I hope your weekend was fabulous!  
Mine certainly was!  I'm happy to say that the Moonlight&Magic Expo was a success! If you were able to visit, Thank you for being a part of it! If you weren't able to visit us, we'd love to see you next time! 
And now on to the beauty! 
I have three photos of beautiful (or at least interesting places!) spaces to show you! 
One of the more interesting streets in the Universe, I'm sure!  

A truly beautiful place! 
  
I'm not certain what is generating those vibrant colours, but it is truly lovely!

And, in closing...
  
I know I could spend quite a bit of time here! Aren't the theatre and the books gorgeous????! 
So, there you have it! 
 The inspiration for a Monday! 
See you on Wednesday! 
Ciao!

Fini Friday! Wing Repair and Still Growing!

Hello Everyone and Welcome to Fini Friday! This will be just a quick post as I'm preparing for the Moonlight & Magic Expo and Medium Gathering tomorrow! The Expo opens at 9am and closes at 5pm at Cambria Suites and the Medium Gathering is at the same bat place from 7-9pm! Join us for Fairies, Fantasy, and Family Fun! I've a few things to share with you today! One is a creation that is just beginning to grow and the other is one of the projects I wanted to finish before bulk of my show schedule is upon me! First! That which is growing! Title: As Yet Unknown Ingredients: Beadable Pen, Blue Mystique Mood Bead, glass, lead-free pewter and ?

I'm still playing with this design so check back to see what it grows into!

Next up!  Wing Repair!  These wings have served me well at shows for some years now, but even wings need a little TLC!

Below are photos of before and after repairs...

Before:

 

And After:  I even re-attached the bells that somehow got lost along the way!

So, there you have it! 
A Fini Friday post all done!
I apologize for the wonky-ness of the wing photos! Google has just changed the entire format of posting blogs and I just don't have any more time to fight to get this right at the moment!
See you on Monday!

Ciao!

Whimsy Wednesday! Penning a Story!

Hello Everyone!
Welcome to Whimsy Wednesday!
As I mentioned before, I've been preparing for my busy show schedule starting this Saturday with Moonlight & Magic Expo and this post is all about a more unusual creation type that I wanted to be able to offer!
Pens! Yes! Those stick-like things that we use to write stuff down on paper! I've beaded pens to show you today!

Title: As Yet Unknown
Ingredients: Pen, glass, acrylic, lead-free pewter, nu-gold wire.

I really love how this turned out!!

Title: Turtle Island Amongst the Stars
Ingredients: Pen, Mood Beads (Turtle Island & Glow in the Dark Stars), lead-free pewter, glass.
Side 1 Side 2
That Turtle mood bead that is in the center of the pen is actually 3 dimensional! One side shows the turtle swimming forward and the other has him looking over his shoulder! Isn't that fabulous? And yes, all 3 beads that are blue-ish in the photos are mood beads, which means they change colours! Rockin'!

These will not be listed in my Etsy shoppe this week as I want to have them available for Saturday's show, so! If you love one of them, and are in the Mpls/Saint Paul (MN, USA) area, stop by to see them in person!

So, there you have it! Now you know the story of these pens!
See you on Friday!
Ciao!

Magical Monday! A Light-Hearted Approach!

Hello Everyone!
Welcome to Magical Monday!
I hope your weekend was fantabulous!
This Monday's post is all about light! (I know, I know, shocking, really!)
First Up!
A staircase that I want in my house!


Glitter!!!

Next!


Is it a Radiator or Light? Radiator? Light?
YES!
Last! Fire Swords!!! WOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!
Click here for the video!

By the way... more awesome things that are happening in my world!
Tomorrow (Tuesday) at 3pm CST (USA), my BlogTalk Radio interview with Cheryl Patton of 1Woman's Wisdom! We're continuing with our discussion of Messages With the Faeries! We're on #6! Stop by for a listen or listen in the archives!
Saturday, April 21st from 9am to 5pm is Moonlight & Magic Expo!! From 7-9 that evening is also the Let Their Voices Be Heard-A Medium Gathering! I'll be on the panel for that!!!
This show is very special!! It is an entirely fairy-themed show, chock full of services, alternative therapies, fabulous jewelry and an all-around positive, fanciful environment! Come on in and visit us, if you are in the area!
Have an awesome week!

Fini Friday! A Stargazing Mood!

Hello Everyone!
Welcome to Fini Friday!
I have new shinies to show you! I've been needing to restock my Mood Bead collection and have been wanting to play with a new design since it came out a little while ago. Alas, but the last order found it out-of-stock! This time, though, it was in stock and mine, ALL MINE!!! ...Ahem....
So let me show you a little bit of what just arrived!

The big round beads in the center? They remind me of space ships and the design is named Star Gazer! How awesome is that?
Also in the pile of loot are mermaids, flowers, bees, flames and sun blossoms! All mood beads, isn't that fun?!

Ok! Now on to the creation!
Title: (You guessed it!) Star Gazer
Ingredients: Mood beads (with glow in the dark stars!), leather cord dyed with lead-free dye(USA), sterling silver, aluminum, metal.

Yup! A space ship among glowing stars! Really, it was only a matter of time until I created this... 'cause really...yeah.. it needed to happen!
This might even save the wearer from being sucked into a wormhole... or something like that...but don't bank your insurance policy on that!
OK! I'm a little goofy at the end of this week! But I am completely serious when I tell you that this can be found in my Etsy shoppe here!
And with that, I'm outta here for the weekend!
Have a fabulous one!
Ciao!

Whimsy Wednesday! Keys!

Hello Hello!
Welcome to Whimsy Wednesday!
I have all sorts of things about keys to show you today!
But first! I wanted to give you an update on what happened with the two pairs of earrings and bracelet (you can see one of the earring pairs here and the bracelet here!) that were donated to be part of a friend's fundraiser for Breast Cancer! The earring pairs were grouped together as one auction item and the bracelet as another. I'm happy and proud to say that the earrings sparked a bidding war! That is so awesome!
OK! Onward!
Let's start with keys that might not pop to mind right away for some of you - computer keys!
Title: Home is Where the Heart Is
Ingredients: repurposed laptop keyboard key, hand-made furnace glass heart(USA), coated copper wire, anodized aluminum, silver-plated surgical steel earwires.

I hope you see the pun!
I actually rip the keys off of a defunct laptop keyboard, drill them out with my Dremel and create from there! Eco-friendly creativity at it's best!!! Woohoo!!

Title: Can't Stop the Signal
Ingredients: repurposed laptop keyboard keys, Czech glass heart, metal, silver-plated surgical steel earwires.

Yup! Those are the "signal" and "max sound" keys from a laptop keyboard! These are especially for all of you Firefly/Serenity fans out there!
Both of these earring creations can be found in my Etsy shoppe here and here!

And one last little bit of whimsy for today!
I started this lanyard some time ago, as a gift for a friend. She is a fellow cat-lover and when I saw the shoelaces with the most cheerful cat (with a star on it's collar!) EVER!!! I had to play with it! I wanted to make something practical and fun for her and so... Voila!

A lanyard with a keychain and clippy thing at the bottom! She has two cats, both grey and, of course, they needed to be included ! Those are the two grey fellows you see at the bottom! One has a very colourful bead at the top of his head as he seems to like being a well-dressed cat, wearing ascots and so forth in colours that offset his classic, elegantly-hued fur!

So there you have it! Keys abounding everywhere in this post!
I hope you have a fantabulous week and I'll see you on Friday!
Ciao!

Magical Monday! Playing!

Hello Everyone!
I hope this was a fabulous Spring Celebration weekend for those of you who observe those holidays!
I have some really fun things to show you today and they are all about playing!
Let's start with the more serene example first!
Roller Coaster!

Isn't this just gorgeous scenery? I regret that I have no more details than what can be gleaned from this photo as to which roller coaster this is or where it is located...

The next bit of playing is much more colourful and is in a more urban setting, though, again, I don't know when or where this photo and wonderful bit of playing took place...

Doesn't that look like FUN!?!!!!

For our last bit of playing, let's travel over to Berlin, just two days ago for a celebration of International Pillow Fight Day! I'm sad to say that I did not realize this Holiday was happening, but I *love* the idea of it and am happy to see others enjoying it very much!
Click here for the YouTube video and watch those feathers fly!

There's your bit of playing for a Monday and I hope this helps with the rest of your week!
See you on Wednesday!
Ciao!

Fini Friday! Cleaning and Preparations!

Hello Everyone!
Welcome to Fini Friday!
Cleaning continues to be a theme this week, as does organizing and preparing for the upcoming show season! I'm applying and hearing back from more and more shows and so traveling out and about with my creations again is becoming more real. This means that all the little tasks that I listed and intended to do during the winter holiday either need to be done or to be let go.
So! I've already finished one item and I'll show you that below...
With the plastic pencil box open...
I was having so much fun reorganizing this little drawer that I forgot to snap a "before" photo! These two photos are "after". It may not look like it at first glance, but the contents of this drawer are the results of evolution over several shows. From top to bottom, we have plastic clips (for securing table coverings and all manner of things), pins, 2 types of tape measures, tape, a plastic pencil case full of little things, extra pens, a lock, and small magnets (for securing my banners). The second photo is the pencil case open for a peek inside. There are charts for the mood beads I sell (one of the few things on my table I don't create myself but do PLAY with all the time!), a metal polishing cloth, change, glass cleaner and paper towel, safety pins, rubbing alcohol and a spare battery. Not included in the photo or drawer (yet!) is a roll of vinyl or electrical tape (tent or other repairs) and a small pad of paper (to write down ideas or suggestions from booth guests and fellow artists). As you might have guessed, while much in this drawer is used at every show; some things are rarely needed, but when they are, they are sorely needed!

I'll finish up this post with a few photos of a new display for my ring creations!
I've switched displays to something more compact, both because I needed the space and also to give me more options in arranging my display elements at each show.
Each show has it's own special requirements for set-up, even if many of them offer the same spacial dimensions and so I like to have some flexibility in my displays.
Here, let me show you!
Closed and ready to pack
up for home! Open, with back as a display...


A close-up of all those beautiful ring shinies!

So there you have it! A bit of nattering about cleaning, preparation and even show display!
Of course, if you are in the Central MN area, you can always visit me at a show and see all of this Sprite-ly Goodness in person!
You can find my current event schedule here!
Here is where I'll be for the month of April!

Tuesday, April 17th 3-4pm (CST, USA) Message #6 On BlogTalk Radio! with Cheryl Patton of 1Woman's Wisdom

April 21st (Saturday only!) Moonlight & Magic Expo 9am to 5pm ($5 Admission)
Panelist for "Let Their Voices Be Heard"-A Medium Gathering 7-9pm ($25 Admission)

Saint Paul Art Crawl!
Friday, April 27th 6 to 10pm
Saturday, April 28th Noon to 8pm
Sunday, April 29th Noon to 5pm
Lowertown Lofts-3rd to 5th Floor Atriums-Saint Paul, MN

Whimsy Wednesday! Bits and Pieces!

Hello Everyone!
Welcome to Whimsy Wednesday!
I have a whimsical assortment of things to show you today!
There has been some cleaning up going on around here and as the sorting goes on, childhood treasures are found! I've some childhood toys to show you that will end up in my creations one way or another!

From left to right are dominoes and a little plastic train car and a wooden Tinkertoy!
The Tinkertoy might become a pendant or focal of some kind... as well as the dominoes... I love that mighty lion on the back of them! and the little train car? I might play with the textures that makes on synthetic clay before turning that into a creation... pendant? earring? Who knows! We'll see!

I picked up another piece of material for my creations over the weekend!
This:

is a piece of fish leather! Yes! That's right, cured fish skin! It is from Iceland and is a by-product of their busy fish trade. This forest green bit is from a Salmon and I'm envisioning atleast one bracelet made with it! I love that lush colour! It speaks of all sorts of forest-y visions!

And what's this? It seems I've put some of the new-found treasure to use already!

Yup! Those are the dominoes (with that fabulous lion!) as part of my photo display for the earring creation titled Soft-Hearted! Isn't that a rich, interesting look? The larger black hearts in these earrings are flocked and pettably soft! I wrapped brass filigree around that softness for a warmer, Art Noveau (for perhaps Faerie Nouveau!) look and the entire earring is finished with mysterious Jet Swarovski crystals!!! They're in my Etsy shoppe now!

So there we are! The end of another Whimsy Wednesday! I hope this brightened your evening and I'll look for you on Friday!
Ciao!

Magical Monday! Colour!

Hello Everyone!
I hope your weekend was fabulous!
I have little bits of fun and colour to show you today!
I regret that I have very little information about where and when this photo was taken and who the bioluminiscent creatures are, but this is so beautiful!


Next up! A cake (yes! A cake!) that I would love to own but probably never actually eat (how could you cut into that????!), so it would probably be best for me to find a statue or snuggly soft stuffed animal like that instead! But here she is!

Isn't that AMAZING!!!???!

And lastly, a video! About a Colour Party! This seems to be originally inspired by the Holi Festivals in India, which seem to be a celebration of the coming of Spring and bidding Winter goodbye for another year.
Click here to view!

There you have it! There is your fun, colour and energy for the day!
Have an awesome day!
Ciao!